Airline stands firm

JetBlue officials won't bend on ending Burlington-to-Orlando connection in November

Aug. 9, 2012

From left, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger, JetBlue vice president of government affairs Jeffrey Goodell and Vermont secretary of transportation Brian Searles stand on the second floor of the Burlington airport on Thursday afternoon following a meeting about JetBlue's cancellation of the direct flight from Burlington to Orlando. Weinberger said they were still unsure about whether the flight would return to Burlington. / ELLIOT deBRUYN/FREE PRESS

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Free Press Staff Writer

Gene Richards, the interim director of Burlington International Airport, said following a meeting between local officials and JetBlue managers Thursday afternoon that the airline still intends to shut down its non-stop connection between Burlington and Orlando in November.

“We didn’t come out with a different conclusion at this point,” Richards said.

He said JetBlue was represented by Vice President for Governmental Affairs Jeff Goodell, who was “very honest,” Richards said, about how the airline made its decision on the Orlando route.

Richards said the JetBlue decision “is exactly what it was.” The company indicated it values the Burlington market and would remain open-minded, he said. The flights will stop just after Thanksgiving weekend.

While the planes to and from Orlando were attractive to passengers, the “numbers weren’t consistent,” Richards said. “That was what it came down to.”

Richards had said the direct flights were popular, running 85 to 92 percent full.

JetBlue flights to Florida through John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City will still be available.

Richards said it is important for the airport to continue to talk with JetBlue, but he provided no specifics about what if anything the airport could do to change the decision.

Others who attended the meeting included Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and Vermont Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles. Representatives of the Airport Commission and the Vermont congressional delegation were also scheduled to attend.